This week’s Ten on Tuesday topic, 10 Songs That Put You In A Great Mood, is irresistible to me. At first, I was tempted to just straight up replicate my Dancing playlist, which is what I put on when I need a spring in my step or to get chores done, but not all the songs in it are happy, even if they are all up-tempo. Then I thought I might combine it with some songs from Dancing 2, which were more upbeat songs that I came up with after I’d played Dancing for a month. But I think instead it’ll just be a mishmosh of songs from my life that I always need to sing along with when they come on. They arrive below in no particular order.

1. “The World Ain’t Slowin’ Down” by Ellis Paul — I have written about this song before. If I had a theme song, this would be it. I even have dance moves I do with the song. If you see a girl moonwalking on the Metro for just two steps, you’ll know why.
    
2. “Accidentally in Love” by the Counting Crows — Another song that demands dancing in public, although this one is perhaps more jumping than dancing. Also singing. Occasionally loudly and in public parks.
   
    
3. “Jack and Diane” by John Cougar Mellencamp — Just “a little ditty…”
    
4. “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond — “So good!” I’m sorry. If you’re even going to pretend that you don’t belt this out with the rest of us, we can’t be friends anymore.
   
    
5. “Galileo” by the Indigo Girls — A college favorite.
    
6. “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi — I really wanted this to be my prom theme, but it would have been a ridiculous prom theme, no matter how much I want things to work out for Tommy and Gina.
    
7. “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves — A favorite of college dances. It was never complete without this one, which I feel must have been pulled out in the 1-2 a.m. hour.
    
8. “Poems, Prayers, and Promises” by John Denver — Do you have an idea of what your ideal day would look like? I’m pretty sure mine was formed by this song. And if hearing it makes me feel a tad melancholic, it’s only because it’s harder to gather everyone in front of a fire to contemplate these things now.
   
    
9. “Marylou” by Kris Delmhorst — Because when I grow up, I want to be like Marylou, too.
    
10. “Sometimes When We Touch” by Dan Hill — This beat out “Livin’ on a Prayer” for our prom theme, and even 20 years later (ouch!) I’m still surprised that my ’90s suburban classmates opted for a 15-year-old love song over a power ballad from the band of our generation. But they were right, and the song was perfect and the night was perfect and you don’t get those moments often enough in life.

Now, I’m always on the lookout for new happy songs to add to my collection, so I’d love if you’d leave some suggestions in the comment section of songs that make you happy.